Excuse Me Officer, I’ll Have The Salmon

On Thursday, March 31st, and Friday, April 1st, law enforcement officers and local officials will take their oath to “serve” and protect to a new level, trading in their handcuffs and badges for menus and serving trays to assist the servers at the Applebee’s Restaurant at 225 Quaker Road in Queensbury! Donations will benefit Special Olympics New Yorkand the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which is part of a year-round, grassroots fundraising campaign by law enforcement agencies to benefit their local Special Olympics Program.

Each year, law enforcement officers from across the state raise money and awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics New York by participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. For more than 24 years thousands of officers from hundreds of agencies across New York have been participating in LETR initiatives. For the first time ever in 2008, law enforcement officials raised over $1,000,000 for Special Olympics athletes!

So plan ahead for lunch or dinner on March 31st or April 1st to benefit the Special Olympics and to have an officer take YOUR order!

BELOW ARE SOME OTHER GOOD THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR AREA! AS ALWAYS, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER FUNDRAISING EVENTS, PLEASE SHARE BY POSTING A COMMENT OR E-MAIL ME AT mkenneypayitforward@gmail.com. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, while I fully support all efforts of people helping people, I am really interested to hear about some “smaller” scale events like a local ziti dinner to help a child in need, for example. These “smaller” events are by no means any less important, they just don’t have the marketing resources and staff that perhaps the larger organizations do. If you are hosting such a function, or know someone who is, please let me know!

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Kure for Kristen –Support a local third grade student that has recently been diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Come help support Kristen and her family, by enjoying live entertainment and a silent auction at The Parting Glass in Saratoga, Sunday March 20, 2011, 3:00pm to 8:00pm. $10 donation. Entertainment will be provided by Rich Ortiz, Mike Steiner & Becky Walton, Big Medicine, Gravity, and Four. Silent Auction donations are needed.Please contact Deb Helwid at (518) 569-0395. Tickets will be available at the door.

The Heroes in Health Awards Banquet, presented by Mass Mutual Financial Group and CDPHP®, is a night to honor the ‘unsung heroes’ of the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center – the nurses, certified nursing assistants, volunteers, and doctors who dedicate their time and compassion to healing sick children.

Seven individuals will be recognized for their extraordinary efforts that touched and healed thousands of hearts and provided countless smiles to sick children and their families. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by an awards presentation at 7pm.

Funds raised at the event will benefit the Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

Tickets are on sale now! Admission is $60 per person or $100 per couple and can be purchased by contacting Chris Turner at 518-438-2655.

Raising Dough, “the menu that gives back” is a unique way to work with our guests to support not-for-profit organizations on a monthly basis. Through the Raising Dough Program, you can opt to put a portion of your check toward non-profits in the Clifton Park community. On the third Sunday of each month, you can choose to have 30% of your guest check donated to the featured non-profit. The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY will be featured in the Raising Dough Program at Pasta Pane on Sunday, March 20th. For more info call 371 5762.

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Saratoga Springs Fashion Fling, Sunday April 3, 2011, 1:00 P.M. $60. Ladies, get the girls together for a fun afternoon for a good cause! Part fashion show, part gourmet luncheon, part retail extravaganza, the Saratoga Springs Fashion Fling will showcase a mix of spring finery. All proceeds benefit The Prevention Council of Saratoga County!

The Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council of Saratoga County, Inc, is a nonprofit, community-based organization. Our mission is to provide education, information and referral services on the subjects of alcohol, tobacco, other drug and violence prevention to individuals and local communities, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all citizens by diminishing the adverse effects of substance abuse and violence.

April is dedicated to increasing awareness of the issues faced by children and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. The mission of the Autism Society of the Greater Capital Region is to promote lifelong access and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum and their families so they can be fully participating, included members of their communities. They do this through advocacy, public awareness, education, compassionate support. Call them at (518)355-2191, or click here to register for this event!

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“ROSES OF THE FIELD” Fashion Show to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of the Capital Region, Presented by Saratoga Trunk. Sunday May 1st, 2011, 1:00 p. m. Hall of Springs, Saratoga. Champagne brunch and fashion show.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region, Inc. promotes the health, development and well being of children and their families. We accomplish this through the Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home for families of seriously ill children, and by creating and supporting programs that directly improve the lives of children and their families.

The Kentucky Derby, the “Run for the Roses”, which will take place on May 7th, inspired Natalie Sillery to theme their first Spring Event, “Roses of the Field”. “Just as the Derby’s field of thoroughbreds are all winners in their own way, so too are YOU – as a supporter of Ronald McDonald House, you truly are one of our own “Roses of the Field”. It is because of your generous support, YOU – our donors, sponsors and volunteers – that we celebrate you today and put you in our Winners Circle, where we don you with our Triple Crown of thanks, gratitude and love.” ~Natalie Sillery of Saratoga TrunkDon’t miss this sell out event! To reserve your seats, contact Chris Turner @ cturner@rmhcofalbany.org or call her at 518/438-2655.